Latest news with #LoriDykstra
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hunger relief group says it's facing a $2.5 million budget shortfall due to federal cuts
Feeding South Dakota's Rapid City location on May 30, 2025. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota's largest hunger-relief organization says it faces a $2.5 million budget shortfall next year because of President Donald Trump's federal funding cuts. Feeding South Dakota CEO Lori Dykstra addressed lawmakers on a budget committee Friday in Pierre. She said the group has already cut the amount of food it provides and has merged distribution sites. She warned that unless the funding gap is filled, 21 food distribution events in 15 counties will be eliminated, affecting 3,400 families and eliminating more than 1.7 million meals annually. 'We're not here to say whether or not the federal funding decisions are right or wrong,' Dykstra said. 'We're just letting you know that one of the unintentional consequences is that the food safety net for Feeding South Dakota and for all of your neighbors facing hunger is at risk.' The cuts come from the rollback of federal aid by the Trump administration, particularly programs begun during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the U.S. Department of Agriculture support food distribution. Dykstra said the group must now find $2.5 million to replace lost USDA support in fiscal year 2026, which begins July 1, or make cuts. Dykstra also warned that if the current budget reconciliation legislation in Congress is enacted, the state could be on the hook for 5% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and a larger share of SNAP administrative costs, adding up to a possible $13 million total state obligation. SNAP participants can use their benefits to purchase food. 'SNAP benefits get people out of food lines,' she said. 'So, it's either they're in the food bank line or they're in the grocery store.' Dykstra said 113,000 South Dakotans are food insecure, meaning they are uncertain about where their next meal will come from, often forced to skip meals, eat less, or purchase cheaper, less nutritious food. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal cuts hit local organizations
SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — Nearly $10 million in federal spending cuts are striking organizations of all sizes across South Dakota. The list of cuts includes school districts, universities and hospitals, along with dozens of agencies that offer treatment for mental health and substance use. KELOLAND News reached out to several organizations on the list of federal spending cuts, including Children's Home Society which lost $325,000. The agency, which helps vulnerable children, adults and families, says it's disheartened. Children's Home Society planned to use the funding for a new service and is now looking at other ways to continue that mission. Another organization seeing a $10,000 grant cut is Feeding South Dakota. Local reaction to all-women space flight 'The impact of losing that $10,000 grant to Feeding South Dakota means that we're unable to connect to the Nexus system, which would allow us to connect to other partners and really help us just with technology,' CEO of Feeding South Dakota Lori Dykstra said. But the nonprofit said it's even more concerned about U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts happening at the federal level. 'About 30% of the food that we received in our 2024 fiscal year was received through the USDA programs,' Vice President of Public Relations for Feeding South Dakota Stacey Andernacht said. 'We use that food in our mobile food distribution programs. We use it to serve our senior box program.' The USDA recently cut $500 million specifically intended for food banks. Feeding South Dakota said it's already been notified about discontinued funding. 'We know that that food is essential food that we get out to our neighbors in need. We'll have to take a look at that,' Dykstra said. 'That could mean up to 14% of our food is cut in the near future.' Even during an uncertain time, Feeding South Dakota said it is confident it will continue to serve South Dakotans. 'We're keeping an eye on things. We are not changing any of our programs or the way that we're serving our communities across the state at this point,' Andernacht said. 'But the process has just started.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
